Container closure



Oct. 9, 1962 M. CUTLER ETAL 3,057,532

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Oct. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS, mom/s CUTLER bl-WNAKD J MMA/P/A Oct. 9, 1962 M. CUTLER ETAL 3,057,532

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed 001;. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS MOP/PIS corn/2 Y BER/MRO J. MMAW/A/ 2M MW AT/Of/VEX nite This invention relates to packaging of small articles (as, for example, cigarettes), concerning especially provision of improved closure features in a portable container therefor derived from a unitary blank foldable into container form.

A well-known kind of package for cigarettes or the like is composed of relatively flexible sheet materials, such as cellophane, metal foil, and paper; this soft type of container presents a considerable likelihood of damage to the contents by crushing, especially when partly empty. On the other hand, existing containers made of paper or cardboard stiff enough to be considered moderately crushproof or hard are difficult to open and close and are unduly expensive to manufacture, ship,

and store. p

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a substantially rigid case or container of customary pocket size, formed from a component one-piece blank of uniform thickness, with improved closure means. An object is improved construction and operation of a slid ing end closure of a portable container. A particular object is construction of a simple crushproof package apted to be formed and packed by conventional cigarette-packaging machinery. Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams.

FIG. 1 is a plan of a foldable blank of this invention in sheet form before conversion into container or package form; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the blank of FIG. 1 at a stage in enfolding about an inner wrapper in package form; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top end portion of the forming container of FIG. 2 at the beginning of folding to form the top closure; and FIG. 4 is a similar view of the same portion of the container at an intermediate stage in the formation of the top closure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the closed top end of the container of the preceding views; FIG. 6 is a similar view of the top of the container with the closure slide in anintermediate or partly opened (or partly closed) position; and FIG. 7 is a perspective of the same container with the closure slide in a fully open position.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing, in a captive closure slide for a dispensing opening in the end of a cigarette container or the like, a portion of the closure slide attached to part of the container and adapted to lie along the end of the container when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and adapted to be folded down against the side of the container as and when the dispens ing opening is uncovered by the closure slide. In particular, this invention contemplates providing such a cap tive closure slide with a component slide member foldably attached at one end to a portion of a wall panel spaced from the dispensing opening, the closure slide being adapted to slide along the end toward that wall panel to uncover the dispensing opening, the portion of the wall panel to which the component slide member is attached being hinged to the rest of that wall panel and thereby adapted to swing outward from the body of the container and through substantially a half circle and into abutment with an adjacent part of the rates atet rest of that wall panel when the closure slide fully uncovers the dispensing opening.

FIG. 1 shows packaging blank 1 viewed in plan from the surface that is folded toward the inside in subsequent views. The generally rectangular body of the blank has wall panels 2 to 6, inclusive, defined by parallel fold lines 7 to 10, inclusive, extending transversely (vertically in this view) from one longitudinal edge of the blank toward the other on corresponding welts (indicated by double lines) produced by scoring of the opposite side of the blank to facilitate folding. Narrow panels 3 and 5 are equal to one another in width, and wide panels 2 and 4 are substantially so; lap panel 6 which has mitered top and bottom edges 32, 33, is narrower than the other narrow panels. Along its free edge, wide wall panel 2 has narrow portion 2' thereof (corresponding to the lap panel in width and shown stippled) to be coated with adhesive.

At the bottom edge of the blank, panel 2' has irregularly shaped (generally rectangular) flap 12 extending from it over essentially the entire width of the panel, with scored fold line 16 separating flap and panel; the free long edge of the flap has generally rectangular inindentation 50 in it. Panel 4 has somewhat larger rectangularflap 14 extending from it over the entire width of the panel, with scored fold line 18 intervening; the short dimension of flap 14 closely approximates the width of one of the narrow panels in the pair. Panels 3 and 5 have at the bottom substantially trapezoidal tabs 13 and 15, respectively, joined to the body of the blank at their bases along aligned respective scored fold lines 17 and 19 (slightly offset from scored fold lines 16 and 18 for the flaps and from one another to compensate for the thickness of the blank when folded). Formation of the bottom closure by the folding down of the tabs and. overlapping of the flaps after the blank is folded into tubular form along the vertical fold lines, being wholly conventional, is not specified further herein.

At the top edge of the blank, panels 3 and 5 have a pair of tabs (one each) extending therefrom over substantially the panel width. Tab 23 is generally rectangular but has notch 37 in its outer edge, centered between side edge 41 and 45. The corners of tab 23 near the ends of welts 7 and 8 round smoothly from the side edges into perforated junction 27 of that tab with the top edge of intervening supporting panel 3. Minor outer portion 23' of detachable tab 23 is coated with adhesive between notch 37 and side edges 41, 45 (in the area indicated by stippling) at any suitable time.

Tab 25 is rectangular and adjoins the top edge of portion 35 of panel 5 along permanent junction 29, defined by the indicated double-width scored fold line or welt. The smooth surface of permanently attached tab 25 is interrupted by similar welt 39 extending transversely thereof spaced from and parallel to its junction with the supporting panel. The distance between fold lines 29 and 39 corresponds to the length of free edge 42 (or free edge 44) of one of the wide wall panels.

Supporting panel portion 35 for tab 25 is hingedly joined to major portion 5 of that narrow wall panel by short scored fold line or welt 38. This short fold line extends transversely of the panel for about the center half of its width, being parallel to junction 29 and separated therefrom by about one-half the length of free edge 42 (or 44). Slits 34 and 36 extend from the opposite ends of hinged junction 38 upward and apart into alignment with fold lines 9 and 10, respectively, and terminate at opposite ends of the tab junction. Thus, fold lines 29 and 38, together with slits 34 and 36, bound movable minor portion 35 of this supporting narrow wall panel.

Generally rectangular flap 24 joined to the top of wide panel 4 extends from free edge portion 44 of the panel to the edge of the tab 25, a distance approximating two-thirds the width of the wide panel, along junction welt 28. The width (vertical dimension) of the flap corresponds closely to the width (horizontal dimension) of each of narrow panels 3 and 5. Triangular indentation 47 is centered in the edge of the flap adjacent tab 25. Major part 24 of the visible surface is stippled to indicate the location of adhesive, which may be applied before or during the folding of the blank.

Flap 22, whose width over most of its length closely approximates that of the other flap (and the narrow panels) extends from free top edge 42 of supporting wide panel 2 for approximately two-thirds of the wide panel width along junction welt 26 at the top of that wide panel. The flap narrows at its outermost edge, as a result of a sloping of the edge closest to tab 23, and on indentation 43 of the opposite edge.

FIG. 2 shows in perspective a portion of inner wrapper 21, with its visible end closed, juxtaposed to blank 1 and partly enfolded by it. Side walls of the wrapper are cincident with narrow wall panel (with portion 35) and (not visible) narrow wall panel 3 and wide wall panel 4 of the folded outer blank. The lap panel of the blank is folded toward the inner wrapper. Wide panel 2 is partly folded toward the wrapper, and adhesively coated portion 2 (visible in FIG. 1) thereof is about to overlie lap panel 6. The tabs and flaps remain aligned with their respective supporting wall panels in this view. Visible at one end of the inner wrapper is removable end portion thereof, defined by broken lines (indicating a perforated or crush-cut boundary line-partly hidden) and including a triangular flap portion of the wrapper. FIG. 2 omits, in the interest of clarity, all showing of the bottom of the resulting container, as do FIGS. 3 to 7, inclusive.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective the forming package of FIG. 2 with the sides of the inner wrapper completely enfolded and the top tabs of the outer shell folded part of the way over the end. Tab 23 partly overlaps tab 25 at the free extremities of the two tabs. The upstanding flaps are shown spread slightly apart at the top to facilitate entrance of the tabs between them. FIG. 4 shows both tabs folded down against the top of the inner wrapper with the detachable tab partly overlying the other tab and with the flaps partly folded down over them. The upper surface of flap 22, which is folded down further, is about to be contacted by adhesive lower surface 24' of triangularly notched flap 24.

FIG. 5 shows the top completely closed, with fiap 24 folded down against the underlying flap (and adherent thereto). The flaps overlie the lapped end portions (not visible) of the tabs, while the opposite ends of both tabs are still attached to the supporting wall panels. The perforated junction of the detachable tab must be broken before the closure member formed by the tabs can slide to uncover the dispensing opening. This essential step can be performed mechanically at a relatively late stage in the enfolding of the container itself-which customarily is accomplished by machine, rather than by hand-or it may be done manually.

FIG. 6 shows the slide formed by the tabs detached at the far edge of the top and slid back to begin to uncover the dispensing opening in that end of the container. Pressure of the forefinger in non-slipping contact with the portion of the slide exposed originally (i.e., in the fully closed position of the slide) within the flap indentation permits the slide to be withdrawn readily enough. Withdrawal of the slide swings the hinged top portion of the attached narrow wall panel outward about its junction with the rest of the visible narrow lap panel. Continued movement in this manner brings the detached tab wholly underneath the overlying flaps just as the hinged wall portion completes a half circle about the hinged junction and comes into abutment with the adjacent portion of the wall panel. This, in effect, provides a sort of toggle action by a bending or folding at scores 29, 38, and 39. The

4 fully open position, attained by such triple-fold configuration is shown in FIG. 7.

When the slide has been withdrawn to this extent it is folded through a right angle (along transverse fold line 39), with its downfoldled portion covering both the supporting hinged wall portion and the aperture (both shown in broken lines) left in the wall panel by displacement of that portion. At this stage the dispensing opening, which is bounded by the top edge of narrow wall panel 3 and free edge portions 42 and 44 of wall panels 2 and 4 plus the near edge of the flaps, is completely uncovered by the slide.

The top of the inner wrapper is shown being opened in this view (FIG. 7) by removal of end portion 30 thereof, as may be accomplished most simply by placing thumb and forefinger of the other hand on opposite sides of the previously mentioned flap portion, grasping it lightly but firmly, and pulling it off to reveal part of the contents (here, cigarettes 20). In the fully open container, after removal of the detachable part of the inner wrapper, the top ends of five cigarettes are fully exposed, the fixed top closure portion formed by the overlapping flaps just clearing the second one in each outer row of the conventional 7-6-7 arrangement. One or more of the cigarettes may be ejected readily by tapping the top of the package.

After manual removal of the desired cigarettes (or other contents) through the dispensing opening provided by withdrawal of the closure slide, the slide may be returned to its original position to close the end of the package. The package can be held, and the slide manipulated, by one hand, if desired, as suggested in FIGS. 6 and 7. When the slide is in the fully closed position, hinged portion 35 of the narrow wall panel (shown partly displaced in FIG. 6) returns to its original position of alignment with the rest of that wall panel. Complete closure is positive and secure, preventing accidental opening under ordinary conditions, especially until all the cigarettes are removed. Emptying of the package, which usually occurs after from about ten to twenty openings and closings when used for cigarettes, leaves it in good condition for subsequent use as a container for buttons, tacks, screws, or similar household articles.

It is apparent that withdrawal of the closure slide to the fully open position is self-limiting, thus effectively rendering it unnecessary for the user to take precautions against accidentally withdrawing the slide so much as to hinder reclosing of the dispensing opening. Furthermore, in the fully open position the downfolded portions of the slide and the supporting wall panel lie flat against the side of the container so that it may be carried in a shirt pocket, for example, in the open position, if desired, without hindering subsequent closure.

The component materials of this package are readily available, and the invention permits reduction in the amounts required, reducing the cost accordingly. The blank used for the shell itself (FIG. 1) may be made most conveniently from relatively stiff paper, such as that used for tags or playing cards. A high quality of paper stock can be used advantageously because of the economy afforded by adequacy of a single thickness (without added rigid paper backing or interliner) in the present construction and by the minimum of waste (at most several percent) in the die-cutting of the blank. The suggested inner wrapper may be composed of thin paper, metal foil, or a combination of the two, as is customary. If desired, either or both inner wrapper and outer shell may be made from plastic sheet material-relatively thin and flexible for the former and relatively rigid but foldable for the latter. The entire container may be covered in conventional manner by transparent plastic, such as cellophane, for example. Unlike the hard shell of certain existing cigarette containers, the present one is free from protrusions designed to aid manipulation of the closure slide; consequently, it is not subject to distortion, as are those others, by reason of the tight fit assumed by an outer cover of cellophane or the like.

Scoring and slitting of the blank to facilitate subsequent folding can be accomplished readily during (or after) a die-cutting of the blank outline, as can perforation of the junction of the detachable tab to the rest of the blank. For simplicity of the showing, only single scoring of the fold lines has been indicated, except for double-width scoring of the folds on the movable attached tab component of the closure slide; however, double or other multiple scoring may be useful elsewhere, as well, in producing more rounded folds, sharp edges being generally undesirable in a crushproof package.

Cigarette manufacturers, who package their own product and have a tremendous investment in existing machinery, can produce the above described hard-shell container conveniently on existing soft-package machinery (notably the AMF 3-79 model made by American Machine and Foundry Company) with only very slight modification. The sequential views of the folding of the scored outer blank will suggest to anyone familiar with the industry the ready adaptation of the standard packaging machinery to it; the formation of the outer shell partakes of the sequence of steps normally employed in surrounding the usual foil wrapper with a soft paper label, as well as those involved in shaping and closing the inner wrapper itself.

The blank and the container made from it as illustrated and described above, may be modified somewhat without departing from the inventive concept embodied therein and claimed hereinafter. The slide may be formed in a single piece, if desired, either integral with or separate from (and subsequently attached to) the blank. Shapes and sizes may be altered insofar as the alteration maintains the structural and functional features of the claimed invention.

The claimed invention:

1. Unitary packaging blank adapted to form a container having a pair of wide wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a pair of narrow wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels, with a dispensing opening in one end surface and a captive closure slide adapted to cover and uncover the dispensing opening, one of the wall panels comprising a hinged portion thereof attached to the closure slide and adapted to swing outward from the body of the container and through substantially a half circle into abutment with an adjacent part of the supporting wall panel when the closure slide fully uncovers the dispensing opening, the hinged wall portion and the closure slide being adapted to return to their respective original positions upon reverse swinging movement of the hinged wall portion, and in which the junction of the hinged wall portion to the rest of the supporting wall panel is spaced from the end surface provided with the dispensing opening by about half the dis tance through which the closure slide is adapted to move along the end in uncovering the dispensing opening, the blank having at least one tab extending from the body thereof and attached thereto to form the captive closure slide.

2. The article of claim 1, in which the length of the junction of the hinged portion of the supporting wall panel is substantially less than the width of that wall panel itself and is centered transversely thereof, and in which the hinged wall portion widens from its hinged junction with the rest of the wall panel and approximates the width of the closure slide at its attachment thereto.

3. A container for cigarettes or the like, comprising a pair of wide wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a pair of narrow wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the Wide wall panels, with a dispensing opening in one end surface, one of the narrow wall panels being hinged along a line extending transversely intermediate its ends and located closer to the end containing the dispensing opening, thereby dividing the wall panel into a fixed major portion and a minor portion pivotable about the transverse line, a closure slide movable along that end to uncover and recover the dispensing opening and attached to the pivotable minor Wall portion, the spacing of the transverse fold line from the junction of the closure slide with the pivotable minor Wall portion being substantially half the greatest dimension of the dispensing opening in the direction of travel of the closure slide, and the closure slide being adapted to fold along a line extending transversely intermediate its ends, the spacing of the transverse fold line of the closure slide from the junction of the closure slide with the pivotable minor wall portion being substantially equal to the greatest dimension of the dispensing opening in the direction of travel of the closure slide.

4. In closure means for a cigarette container made of foldable sheet material, the improvement comprising a movable strip thereof extending along the top and along a portion of one side of the container and joined to the lower part of that side and lying in the plane of that side when the container is closed, the movable strip being adapted to fold along a transverse line at the corner formed by it between the top and that side in the closed position and to fold along the transverse junction line between it and the lower part of that side and to fold along a transverse line extending across it and spaced twice as far along its surface from that corner line as that corner line is from that junction line, the movable strip being adapted upon being folded along the mentioned three transverse lines to slide in part along the top and to fold down in part along the side of the container, the downfolding part thereof being that part located between the junction line and the transverse line other than the corner line, and being adapted to assume in the resulting open position a location alongside the lower part of that side, the rest of the strip being adapted to lie along some portion of the top of the container at all times, bordering the mentioned side in the open position and being spaced therefrom toward the opposite side in the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,274 Denman Mar. 13, 1934 2,330,926 Rous Oct. 5, 1943 3,021,992 Phillips Feb. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 356,800 Great Britain Sept. 14, 19-31 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,057,532 October 9, 1962 Morris Cutler et a1 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 31, for "apted" read adapted column 2, line 23, strike out "incolumn 3, line 16, for "on" read of column 4, line 5, for "downfoldled read downfolded Signed and sealed this 26th day of March 1963 (SEAL) Attest:

ESTON Go JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

